Means for suspending plates during treatment by electrolysis



B. M. WEEKS. MEANS FOR susmzmilmn PLATES DURING TREATMENTBYIELECT'ROLYSIS.) v APPucm0N mm m. 5, 1921.

1,427,875. P n dSep 5, 1922.

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#TTUR/VEK V R..M. WEEKS. MEANS FOR, SUSPENDIVNG PLATES DURING TREATMENTBY ELECTROLYSIS APPLICATION FILED FEB.5,1921- Patented Sept 5, 1-922.

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m M w W Fa /mana/ M lVzke/zs ATI'ORNEK Passes Sept. 5, 192a STTQS TamOFFEQE.

RAYMOND M. WEEKS, 0F NARBERTI-I, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQR TO WEEKS PHOTO-ENGRAVING COMPANY, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, FENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TIONOF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR SUSPENIDING PLATES DURING TREATMENT BY ELECTROLYSIS.

Application filed February 5, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND M. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Narberth, county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for SuspendingPlates During Treatment by Electrolysis, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

y invention relates to novel means for suspending plates in electrolyticbaths in the process of electrical etching.

Heretofore in the process of electrical etching, it has been customaryto suspend the plate to be coated in a bath of electrolyte by means ofconducting wires leading from the corners of the plates to a hooksuspended rom a bus bar. Such method of suspending the plate is open toa number of objections, chief among which are that the edges of theplate must be drilled for the reception of the suspending wires, thusinjuring the plate, and that in the process of plating the action of theelectrolyte on the wires rendersthem useless and necessitates theirreplacement after a relatively short period of use.

Further, the present method of suspension is unsatisfactory because ofthe time required for making and breaking the connections between thewires and plate and for the adjustments necessary to secure uniformsubmersion of the plate throughout its surace.

By virtue of my invention, suspending means are provided which areunaffected by the electrolyte or by electrolysis, which may be attachedto, and unattached from, a plate in a minimum of time, and which may bereadily adjusted to suspend and maintain the plate at a uniform depth ofsubmersion.

I will now describe a preferred embodiment of my invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which like symbols indicatelike parts in the several figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a side viewof a plate suspending device embodying my invention.

nected suitable leads.

Serial No. 442,637.

Figure 2 is an end view of the subject of igure 1, partly in section.

igure 3 is a side view of the suspending device with a plate suspendedtherefrom.

Figure fl is a detail view of a portion of the device.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of an electroplating tank with the devicein position.

Figure 6 is a detail of the supporting means for the plate suspendingdevice.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an application of the device forthe suspension of a large plate.

a is a plating tank of any suitable construction for containing liquidelectrolyte, to the sides of which are secured supports 6 to which inturn are secured bars, of conducting material, 0, 0' provided withlengthwise extending slots d. Terminals e are provided at the ends ofbar 0 to which are con- Rods f of conducting material adapted to supportthe plate suspending device extend between the bars 0, 0', their endsbeing reduced and threaded, as at g, to extend through the slots d inbars 0, 0' so that the rods may be adjusted lengthwise of the bars.Thumb screws 72. threaded on the ends of the rods are tightened tosecure the rods in desired position. i

The plate suspending device proper comprises a strip of conductingmaterial 2' hav and provided with a hook 70 at its upper or solid endadapting it to be suspended from one of the rods 7. The lower end of thestrip 2' is passed between the carbon plates Z, Z having aligning slotson cut in their edges, the plates being drawn together to secure them tothe strip by means of a bolt, which passes through the slot j, and athumb screw as indicated at s. 'Theexposed surfaces of the carbonplates, except for that portion withinthe slot m and those portions oftheir adjacent faces as contact with the strip 2', are covered with anysuitable non-conducting paint which will not be attracted by theelectrolyte. j

The strip 2' is secured to a bar a of conducting material having alengthwise extending slot a by means of a bolt and thumb screw passingthrough the slots in the bar and strip respectively, as indicated at t.Secured to the strip 71 above the bar, by a bolt passing through slotand a thumb screw as indicated at u, is an angle piece 1).

In operation, a normal sized plate may be supported in the bath at twopoints, as shown in Figure 5, the plate being shown in dotted lines. Apair of suspenders, as above de scribed, are secured together by meansof a bolt and thumb screw passing through bars a, as shown g, Fig. 3,and attached to the plate a by inserting opposite edges of the plateinto the slot in in the carbons thus forming contact between the carbonand plate, after which the thumb screw at q is tightened up, securingthe bars a tightly together, and the hooks 7c engaged with one ot therod 7, thus suspending the plate in the electrolytic bath in the tank a.

The depth of submersion of the plate is then regulated by adjusting thecarbon plates Z, Z and the bars a of the suspenders up or down on thestrips 2'. Blocks 0 are then adjusted so that their flanges 39 will bearon the upper edge of bars a, the lower edges of which bear on the upperedge of the carbon plates Z, and sagging or tipping as illustrated inFigure 4 is prevented.

The plates may be readily adjusted lengtl wise of the ta by adjustingrods f relative to bars 0, 0. In the plating process the current passesfrom a suitable source, through'the bar 0, rod f and strip 6 to thecarbon plates Z, forming electrodes. in engagement with the plate andfrom which the current passes to the plate. From the plate the currentpasses through the electrolyte to a suitable cathode (not shown)immersedtherein and suitably connected to the negative pole of thesource of current. I

In Figure 7'1 have shown the application of the suspender to a plate ofasize necessitating support from all four of its edges. The suspendersused are as above described with the exception that the bars atextending between one of the pairs of suspenders have secured to them,by means of bolts 41, and support angle pieces 0 which extend towardopposite edges of the plate and support suspenders which engage theedges of the plate.

From the above description it will be obvious that the suspenderembodying my invention is readily adjusted and applied to any size plateand the depth of submersion of the plate in the electrolyte may beaccuii'ately fixed and made uniform through out its surface.

It will be further noted that the life of the suspender is practicallyindefinite because all parts of the conductors submerged in and subjectto the deteriorating action of relatively laterally,

the electrolytic bath are fully protected, without in any way reducingtheir etliciency.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim anddesiretoprotect by Letters Patent is 1. Means for suspending a plate tobe etched in a. bath of electrolyte, comprising an electrode adapted toengage an edge of the plate and means adapted to support the electrode.

52. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte.comprising a pair ct electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of theplate, and means to suspend the electrodes and adjust them laterallywith relation to each other.

8. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising an electrode provided with a groove open ing laterally forthe reception of an edge of the plate, and means to suspend theelectrode.

4:. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of theplate, and means to sus pend the electrodes vertically and adjust themrelatively laterally.

5. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to engage opposite edges of theplate, and means to {id just the electrodes vertically, to adjust themand to hold them fixed in their adjusted position.

6. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising an electrode having a groove into which the edge of the plateis insertable and thereby supportable, and a covering, resistant to theaction of the electrolyte, applied superficially to the electrode butnot to the walls of the groove, thereby maintaining the sup ported edgeof the plate in direct contact with the material of the electrode.

7. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising a suspension device of conductive material, an electrode anda non-conductive and electrolyte-resistant covering for the electrode,said electrode having exposedportions adapted respectively to directlyengage the suspension' device and the plate.

8. Means "for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising an electrode composed of two members, a suspending device,and means to clamp the suspension device between the two members of theelectrode, aligning vertical edges of the two electrode members havinglateral and aligning grooves into which the edge of the plate isinsertable,

9. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising an electrode intended for partial submergence in theelectrolyte and composed of two members, a suspension bar of conductivematerial, means to clamp said bar between opposing surfaces of theelectrode members, aligning vertical edges of the electrode membershaving lateral and aligning grooves adapted to receive and hold the edgeof a plate, a non conduc'tive covering of electrolyte-resistant materialapplied to the electrode but leaving exposed the surfaces thereofadapted for engagement with the suspension bar and plate. ,7 i

10. Means for suspending a plate to be etched in a bath of electrolyte,comprising a support adjustable relative to the electrolyte in ahorizontal plane, a pair of hangers adapted to engage the support, anextensible brace secured to and adjustable vertically and horizontallyrelative to the hangers,

and electrodes slotted for the reception of opposite edges of a plateadjustably secured to said hangers. I 11; Means for suspending a plateto be etched in a bathoit' electrolyte, comprising a support adjustablerelative to the surface of the electrolyte in a horizontal plane, a

pair of hangers adapted to engage the support an extensible bracesecuredto and adjustable vertically and horizontally relative to the hangers,arms secured to and extend ing at an'angle from said brace, andelectrodes slotted for the reception of opposite edges ofa plateadjustably secured to said arms and hangers.

hereunto set my hand, at'Philadelphia, Pa,

